BBC: Big Plans to Bring Code to Every Home

A pioneering new initiative designed to inspire and educate a new generation in IT and digital computing technologies is being launched by the BBC.

Building on the success of its scheme to make computing mainstream by installing BBC Micro computers in schools, this new proposal is geared towards plugging skills gaps in schools and training a younger generation in important and invaluable computing skills.

The initiative was announced by the BBC's director general Tony Hall, who said: "We want to inspire a new generation to get creative with coding, programming and digital technology."

As technology continues to develop apace, it is becoming increasingly clear that current ITC teaching does not cover vital skills needed to develop a new swathe of technology experts, and the government has identified this as an area of concern. Coupled with falling interest in higher education IT and computing courses, inaction could lead to a potentially massive black hole in IT skills for future generations.

Schools in England will introduce a new computer science module to their curriculums in 2014, and the BBC's announcement of their new initiative - due for launch in 2015 - is a welcome addition to the new thinking around the discipline.

Working alongside the government, academic bodies and technology companies, the BBC plans to launch a range of tools and resources to help the public create apps, websites and games, all designed to get people fully engaged with technology and help them to get to grips with some of its more complex aspects.

The ambitious aim of the programme is to totally transform the nation's thinking around the subject, by removing barriers and increasing access to technology, creating a new 'can do' attitude. The organisation will also use its massive reach through radio, television and online programmes to work in tandem with the project, commissioning engaging new programmes and encouraging conversation and debate to spark national interest in the topic.

With coding and the ability to effectively interact with computers now arguably as valuable a skill as reading and writing, there is a clear need for a complete change in attitudes towards both teaching and learning in technology.

As a hugely influential and widely respected institution, the BBC is in an almost unique position to reach millions of people across the country, and as it is estimated that in the next decade, we will need around a million new technology professionals.

Geared at adults and children alike, the programme aims to bring computer coding to the masses, so even technophobes can feel they are able to learn and subsequently teach their children about the subject. It is about bringing technology in line with other traditional subjects such as literacy and maths, giving it equal importance and standing in both an educational and recreational capacity. By making technology an almost everyday activity, it is hoped that more people will turn to (or return to) the industry, providing the essential expertise the UK needs to remain a technological player.

At Anderselite, we believe Introducing a whole new generation of IT lovers to the industry can only be a positive thing. Whether the BBC initiative serves to teach from scratch, up-skill or simply engage, it will change the way our entire nation views technology.

As well as introducing new professionals to the industry, it will train and educate older generations in ways to view and use technology, introducing a national standard of learning and applying these skills. In an era where a flagging economy seems to be something of the norm, this exciting new scheme has all of the hallmarks of acting as an economy booster, bringing in skilled professionals, firing interest and driving the nation forward as a technological force to be reckoned with.